Customers who walk through the Salmon Run Mall entrance by Regal Cinemas now are greeted by the metallic glint of 310-gallon fermentation tanks perched atop a 14-foot mezzanine at Skewed Brewing Co.

Co-owners Ryan and Cheryl Chaif, who opened the business with Mark P. Crandall, have hired about 50 part- and full-time employees.

The brew pub and eatery, which opened Tuesday next to the theater, will host a grand opening featuring live jazz music Oct. 18, 19 and 20. Those who wear hats or T-shirts purchased from Skewed Brewing or the Hops Spot, which the Chaifs also own in Sackets Harbor, during that weekend will receive drink specials.

Inspired by pubs from the Prohibition era, the five-barrel brewhouse, 46-foot stainless steel bar, cement floor and logo featuring skewed lines are intended to provide a distinctive restaurant experience, Mr. Chaif said. Its unusual name was inspired by a mathematical term in geometry referring to two nonparallel lines that dont intersect.

Diners see more signs of the owners creativity when they sit down at the 12-foot-tall bar, where 48 craft beers are available on tap. Draft wines and specialty sodas soon will be debuted, Mr. Chaif said. Another feature installed along shelves behind the bar will be a rolling ladder system that moves along a track mounted to the wall, giving servers easy access to a collection of wine and spirits bottles.

Most wine comes in a bottle and goes bad after you open it, but our wine will always be served fresh from kegs, Mr. Chaif said Wednesday. Our craft beer lineup has a couple of beers from each category, so youll find something whether youre new or old to the hobby.

The brewhouse will make beer using recipes crafted by the co-owners starting in 2014, Mr. Chaif said, when it plans to unveil its own line of homemade brews.

The 2,250-square-foot eatery, which seats about 100 diners, has a menu with an eclectic range of brick-oven pizzas, sandwiches and appetizers including salads, soups, chicken wings and baked pretzels. Its culinary team has expertise cooking duck, Mrs. Chaif said, which is featured with pizza, salads and sandwiches. She said one of the menus unique sandwiches, named Hoi Ahn, is made with pulled pork and flavored with cilantro and lime juice. The recipe was inspired by a sandwich the Chaifs sampled during a trip to Italy.

The eaterys location next to the theatre has been a bonus for couples with children who want to dine out, Mrs. Chaif said.

We had two couples yesterday that came in and dropped their kids off at the theater to eat here, she said. There are a lot of corporate restaurants and family-style places in Watertown. But there arent many local restaurants that have a different style like us.